Significant Increase In Birth Defect Development Investigated By Washington State Amid Mounting Zofran Lawsuits

ZofranLegal.com reports on a significant and alarming increase in the occurrence of serious birth defects which has occurred specifically in hospitals within three Washington state counties over the past five years. The birth defect on the rise, which is being noted is called anencephaly. Anencephaly is an extremely rare neural tube defect which generally appears in newborns very infrequently, however, in Yakima, Benton, and Franklin counties of Washington State, the birth defect has suddenly started to appear at a dramatically increased rate. Today, researchers are investigating why this might be the case.

Reports indicate that among these specified Washington state counties, in just the last 5 years, 41 mothers have claimed to have lost their newborns after the children were born with anencephaly. These numbers make Washington's rate for the likelihood of anencephaly development almost 5 times higher than the national average. As birth defects have been a common topic in the news lately, many are starting to pay attention and ask how we can better prevent them from occurring. In addition to this strange birth defect anomaly in Washington, reports of Zika virus and microcephaly have been consistently in the news, and parents across the nation have been filing lawsuits against manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline, alleging that their anti-nausea drug Zofran has caused infants to be born with a broad range of severe and even fatal birth defects.

No matter the cause of any of these devastating birth defects, their occurrence is deeply concerning for parents and medical professionals alike. The recent media focus brought to the subject of birth defects has shed light on some concerning statistics, including reports that less than half of the country’s states have an “active” birth defect notation system in place at this point in time. Many are now asking what more can be done for our future children.

While Zofran use among pregnant women has not been specifically linked to anencephaly development at this point, it was noted that at least one adverse event discussing the defect was reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration between 2004 and 2012 according to data received by Monheit Law following an FOIA request on Zofran and adverse events. Parents who have filed Zofran lawsuits commonly allege that fetal exposure to the drug has caused their children to develop: cleft lip and palate, kidney defects, atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect, transposition of the greater vessels, respiratory distress, and clubfoot. Evaluating all of these concerning birth defect patterns just further illustrates the need for better prevention initiatives.

The attorneys of Monheit Law are currently working to assist other mothers who have taken Zofran while pregnant and who have gone on to give birth to children with defects. Affected women, children, and families deserve the opportunity to evaluate their legal rights in full, and may be entitled to significant compensation. To better assist affected parties who want to learn more about their legal options, the attorneys of Monheit Law are offering free legal consultations at this time.

To request additional Zofran birth defect lawsuit information, or to ask questions, contact Michael Monheit, lead attorney of Monheit Law, by calling (877) 620-8411.